HARROGATE Railway played their first full match on Saturday since their December 14 FA Vase defeat to Newcastle Town - and managed to take a point off title-chasing Goole in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

The first half of the North East Counties League premier division encounter at Station View saw just one goal, Jason Harris's 17th-minute strike giving the visitors the lead.

But the ding-dong clash took off after the break, with Paul Stansfield equalising for Paul Marshall's men and then doing so again after former Harrogate Town striker Harris had netted his second of the game.

Goole retook the lead with just ten minutes remaining through Kevin Graham and it looked like the league leaders would take another three points back to East Yorkshire.

However, the Rail once again showed their battling spirit as they levelled for a third time, Steve Davey getting the goal after a goalmouth scramble.

Pickering Town's fight against the drop took a turn for the better as a fantastic injury-time strike saw them win at Garforth in another entertaining encounter.

The Pikes avenged Garforth's late 1-0 win at Mill Lane, being pegged back twice before eventually winning 3-2 through James Drinkall's bicycle kick.

The Pikes took the lead after just three minutes through ex-York City trainee Luke Ibbotsen from 15 yards, but Garforth were level within a minute through Gavin Birmingham, who left a flat-footed defence in his wake.

The Pikes retook the lead in the 11th-minute when Gavin Dickenson netted after a melee from a corner, but the hosts equalised again when Birmingham notched his ninth goal in nine games.

Nevertheless, the Pikes were on top in the last quarter and Alex Wilgrass and Adam Wash were both denied before Drinkall hit his superb winner after Ben Rhodes' corner.

Selby Town's match at Glapwell was called off, while in NCEL division one Tadcaster Albion battle to get away from the bottom was knocked back by a 2-0 defeat at Pontefract Collieries.

Harrogate Town are now eyeing a top-ten finish in the UniBond League premier division after stretching their unbeaten run to nine games.

Manager John Reed, who at the start of the season had wanted a top-half finish, had to reset his sights after his side got off to a poor start to the campaign. However, those aims have been set higher once again after Town won for the eighth time in nine outings, beating Hucknall Town 2-0 at Wetherby Road.

Reed has been seeking a striker in the last week or so after losing several hitmen to injury and end of loan deals, but he found a goalscorer in Colin Hunter, who grabbed both goals.

His first came in the 17th-minute when he fired home after Paul Sykes had chested the ball into his path, though Hucknall's defence left a lot to be desired.

His second, in the 67th-minute, was made by former York City youngster James Turley, who broke clear and crossed for Hunter to head home.

Hunter nearly completed a hat-trick, while any hopes Hucknall harboured of a comeback were dented when Jamie Williams was sent off after felling Turley.

Updated: 10:52 Monday, January 13, 2003